Community building resources

The City of London supports the development of strong communities in neighbourhoods across the city. We offer community building resources to help residents and resident-led groups share information, support one another and develop a stronger sense of community.

Business Association Guide

The City of London supports the development of strong business associations in our neighbourhoods, working together to promote the district, foster a sense of place, and improve the conditions that support business success. 

Please email lsnyder@london.ca or call 519-661-2489, extension 4651 for a copy of the Business Association Guide, which includes tools, tips and templates to help neighbouring businesses organize and maintain effective associations.

Starting a neighbourhood association

Strong neighbourhood associations build community and promote health and well-being in a variety of ways.  We value volunteer efforts by dedicated residents to improve their neighbourhoods.

Dedicated residents are the heart of change in neighbourhoods, and we offer a variety of supports for the first three meetings for new or re-emerging neighbourhood associations. This includes group meeting supports.

Contact the Neighbourhood Development Support team tools and information for neighbourhood volunteers to organize and maintain an effective association. 

Neighbourhood action plans

A neighbourhood plan is a written document that provides a vision of what you would like your neighbourhood to look like; it sets out clear goals to achieve that vision; and it gives you an action plan to reach those goals.

Residents can create these plans to:

  • Increase knowledge of the neighbourhood, the community and the programs available
  • Increase opportunities for people to participate in a wide range of recreational, social and educational activities
  • Increase opportunities for community members to be involved and engaged in their neighbourhood (reduced isolation)
  • Create stronger community leadership for the long-term
  • Cultivate a stronger and more vibrant neighbourhood where all individuals feel safe and proud to live

The Kipps Lane and Argyle Neighbourhoods are great examples of groups who created neighbourhood action plans. Email us to share their plans as you create your own.

Commemorative street sign program

Old or new, small or large, every neighbourhood has a story to tell and an identity to celebrate. We can support you to discover your neighbourhood’s stories, create new ones, and celebrate a shared identity that will bring neighbours together and connect them to where they live.

Residents or resident-led group can apply for signs that reflect and strengthen their neighbourhood’s unique identity, as envisioned by the people who live there.

Who can apply for a commemorative street?
  • Residents, resident-led groups, and neighbourhood-based groups can apply.  Applicants are encouraged to gather as much support from people in the neighbourhood as possible. Broad-based community support is needed for agreement on the name and design, raising the necessary funds and celebrating the finished product.  
  • Groups based in Heritage Conservation Districts do not need to apply, as these districts already have unique signage in place, or will in the future.
  • This program works best for smaller neighbourhoods with clear boundaries, as opposed to large districts that may encompass several smaller neighbourhoods with their own unique identities.
How to decide on a design?
  • A professional graphic designer should be used to design the addition to the street sign.
  • To start the process, interested community members should discuss their vision for the design and think about what text and imagery you would like to be included.
  • This information will be shared with the graphic designer who may create a few options for neighbours to choose from, which could be done online or at a community event.
How much does it cost?
  • The application fee is $500 +tax, and signs are approximately $200 each, including installation.
  • A professional graphic designer may also charge a fee for their contribution to the project. This may range from $250 to $1,000.
  • To cover these costs, groups may fundraise or apply for funding.
How to get started?
  • To begin the application process, please fill out this online form.  Staff will review the information provided and reach out to you to discuss next steps.
  • Depending on the context of the neighbourhood, a letter may need to be sent to all nearby properties to confirm support for the new street signs and neighbourhood name. Be advised that if consensus is not achieved, some of the streets may be exempt from the new signs.

 

Neighbourhood Welcome Kits

Neighbourhood Welcome Kits are available to support residents and community groups to welcome new people to their neighbourhoods, blocks, or buildings. It can help someone who just moved into your neighbourhood feel connected to the community.

Contact our team to request a kit. Limit 5 per request.

Keeping your neighbourhood association contact information updated

London has many neighbourhood associations which residents can get involved and connect together. The Information London website hosts a list of Neighbourhood & Business Associations as well as some other types of community groups.

If your association or group’s information is not listed or outdated, please email neighbourgood@london.ca to request it to be added or updated. 

1996-2016 Neighbourhood Profiles

The City of London offers a comprehensive demographic profile of the City and its 43 Planning Districts. Each profile includes information from the 2016 Census as well as census data from 1996, 2001, 2006, and 2011. The profiles contain data on demographics, educational levels, housing types, employment, income, unemployment rates, and more.

The Neighbourhood Profiles are currently available for the following planning districts:

Please note - Comparability of Data: caution should be used when comparing NHS data (2011) to long-form census data (1996, 2001, 2006 and 2016), especially when it comes to data for small geographies due to a difference in data collection methodologies employed by Statistics Canada.

 

Last modified:Monday, June 27, 2022